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US consulate spokesman Scott Robinson said the US has an interest in Hong Kong’s continued stability and prosperity based on "one country, two systems". Photo: Edward Wong

US urges ‘meaningful choice’ of candidates for Hong Kong’s leader

It is for Hongkongers and the city’s lawmakers to decide whether to pass the proposal for the 2017 chief executive election, the US consulate says, although the United States believes the legitimacy of the city’s leader will be enhanced if there is a meaningful choice of candidates.

It is for Hongkongers and the city’s lawmakers to decide whether to pass the proposal for the 2017 chief executive election, the US consulate says, although the United States believes the legitimacy of the city’s leader will be enhanced if there is a meaningful choice of candidates.

The US has an interest in Hong Kong’s continued stability and prosperity based on “one country, two systems,” the Basic Law, and a high degree of autonomy, consulate spokesman Scott Robinson said.

“As we have said previously, we believe that the legitimacy of the chief executive will be greatly enhanced if the chief executive is selected through universal suffrage and Hong Kong’s residents have a meaningful choice of candidates,” he said. “It is for the Hong Kong Government, the Legislative Council, and the people of Hong Kong to decide whether or not to pass this proposal.”

The government yesterday put forward a blueprint for the 2017 chief executive electoral reform proposal, in line with the restrictive framework set last year by Beijing. It requires chief executive hopefuls to win majority support from a 1,200-strong nominating body, which will approve two to three candidates for whom Hongkongers can vote in a general election.

The proposal needs the support of at least four pan-democrat lawmakers to obtain the required two-thirds backing in order to pass.

Pan-democrats have vowed to vote down the government’s proposal because it deprives Hongkongers of a genuine choice of candidates.

The stance of the US Consulate in Hong Kong is in stark contrast to that of Britain and a top Hong Kong-based western diplomat.

On Monday, a top Hong Kong-based Western diplomat called on pan-democratic lawmakers to accept the less-than-ideal blueprint.

The diplomat said even under Beijing’s restrictive framework, the pan-democrats would still have a chance to field a candidate.

In February, Britain said in its half-yearly observation on Hong Kong that Beijing’s framework for political reform in Hong Kong was the best step forward to universal suffrage although it was far more restrictive than had been expected.

Philip Hammond, the British foreign secretary, said at the time Beijing’s proposal did provide a “meaningful step forward for democracy”.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: US urges ‘meaningful choice’ of candidates for Hong Kong’s leader
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